Kent’s leading media business, the family-owned KM Group, is planning to restructure its organisation with the loss of 61 jobs.

The company which runs local newspapers, websites and radio stations across Kent says the poor economic climate has caused revenue to drop by 25 to 30 per cent, costing it £9 million in revenue in a full year. Most major UK regional publishers are suffering similar declines.

In its statement to staff today, the company says this would lead to unsustainable annual trading losses if it took no action.

The group is also planning to close six of its smaller offices and restructure parts of its editorial operation.

Managers are consulting with the staff affected by the proposal. The company said that it would offer professional support and help to all those who were at risk of losing their jobs.

Managing Director Chris Bisco said that the company had not taken the proposal over redundancies lightly but the plans were more than just short term cost-cutting.

He said: “The media landscape is also changing and we have to re-gear ourselves to take up some exciting new market opportunities.

“We have a unique opportunity. We are the only media business in Kent that can offer integrated news, information and advertising services through press, radio and the internet for our readers, listeners, web visitors and customers.”

Chairman Geraldine Allinson said “We hate to make anyone redundant but we have no alternative given the drop in our revenues if we are to maintain the strength of the company in the future.

“If our proposal goes ahead, we believe that the company has an exciting future. We would still employ over 580 people and have the most journalists and the biggest commercial staff of any media operation in Kent, all focused on serving their local communities and customers. And we will remain the only major media business in Kent which is entirely owned by a Kent family.”

The offices that are put forward for closure in the consultation are Dover, Faversham, Sittingbourne, Tunbridge Wells as well as the radio studios in Maidstone and Tonbridge. The KM High Street office in Maidstone is not included in the office closure proposal. The work of the closed offices will be transferred to the remaining larger offices throughout Kent.

The consultation will go on until the end of October.

KM Group’s newspapers have a total weekly readership of 927,000. The Group’s seven kmfm radio stations have a total of 154,000 listeners a week. Its websites now have more than 200,000 unique visitors every month.